Tank type suction cleaner



April 1950 R. c. OSBORN ET AL 2,503,913

TANK TYPE SUCTION CLEANER Filed Dec. 23, 1946 a Sheets-Sheet 1 g o 0 o w V I L- a 1 1- \9 a0 on 3 \9 8 O m e I T' v Q 8' "j ll] P a u .g lfl Q In Fl 7n Ifi V INVENTORS I RALPH C. OSBORN CHARLES F'. FOLEY April 11, 1950 R. c. osBo'RN ETAL 2,503,918

TANK TYPE sucmn CLEANER Filed Dec. 25, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TORS RALPH C. OSBORN BY CHARLES E FOLEY ATTORNEY April 1950 R. c. OSBORN ET AL 2,503,918

TANK TYPE SUCTION CLEANER Filed Dec. 23, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS RALPH Ossonu CHARLES E FOLEY 4 7 TORNE Y Patented Apr. 11, 1950 TANK TYPE SUCTION CLEANER Ralph C. Osborn and Charles F. Foley, Bloomington, 111., assignors to Eureka WilliamsCorporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December 23, 1946, Serial No. 717,924

12 Claims.

This invention relates to tank type suction cleaners and has particular reference to a novel and improved construction for horizontal cleaners of this type whereby the parts thereof may more readily be manufactured and assembled.

Cleaners of this type are in common use today but the construction of such cleaners is such that the expense of manufacturing the same is relatively high due to the shape and relative arrangement of the parts thereof. invention, parts of the cleaner are constructed and arranged in such a manner so as to make it possible economically to build cleaners of this type without sacrificing the performance or appearance thereof and at a lower cost than heretofore possible.

This invention contemplates a casing made of several moulded plastic pieces, one of which comprises a base member which forms a support for the motor, a part of a fan chamber cavity and the bottom wall of the bag space, and to which base member a motor and fan unit, a hood, a dirt collecting bag and an end cap may readily be assembled so as to complete the cleaner. The base also is formed to provide runners for supporting the cleaner for movement on the floor.

A principal object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a new and improved construction for tank cleaners.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved arrangement for removably securing the dirt collecting bag in the cleaner so as to expedite the removal and replacement thereof.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, of which there are three sheets, which by way of illustration show preferred embodiments and the principles thereof and what we now consider to be the best mode of applying those principles.

Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

We also contemplate that of the several different features of our invention certain ones thereof may be employed in applications separate and apart from the remainder thereof.

In the drawings:

. Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a cleanerembodying the invention;

According to this A 2 Fig. 2 is a plan view of the base with the motor and fan assembled thereto;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the cleaner; Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the end cap taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along the line 5--5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1, a tank type suction cleaner embodying the invention comprises, in general, a base ID, a hood [2, and. an end cap l4, forming a casing which defines a bag space I6, and houses a motor [8, a fan 20, and a dirt collecting and filtering bag 22. The end cap [4 is provided with a coupling member 24 defining an air inlet to the cleaner which communicates with the interior of the bag 22. The other end of the casing is also provided with a coupling member 24, which forms an air outlet from the cleaner.

As is well known in the art, a suction cleaning tool or other device may be connected to the cleaner by means of a flexible hose having a coupling which may be detachably connected with either of the couplings 24.

The fan is driven by the electric motor [8 and operative for effecting a circulation of air into the cleaner through the air inlet thereof, through the bag 22, through and over the motor [8, and out of the casing through the outlet thereof where the bag 22 is arranged to collect the dirt entrained in such air and to effect the separation of such dirt from the air. A handle is secured to the casing and electric current is supplied to the motor I8, through the cord 32, and under the control of a switch 34 arranged to be opened and closed by manipulation of the button 36.

The base member ID comprises a moulded generally flat, horizontally disposed plastic piece which is formed (Figs. 1 and 5) to provide a support 38 for the motor l8 and a cavity 40 open at its upper end. The cavity 40 forms the lower half of a horizontal axis fan chamber.

Integral portions of the base also define part of an inlet 42 to the fan chamber. A cover 44 secured to the base member cooperates with the cavity 40 to complete the fan chamber and to complete the inlet 42 thereto. The cover 44 and a portion of the base member ahead of the fan 46 for an air filter 48.

The base member i is formed to provide runners 50 on which the cleaner is supported and the bottom wall 52 of the bag space it. The cover 44 may be secured to the base by means of screws 54. The base 80 is also formed to provide a seat 56 which extends along the sides of the base and across the back thereof, which is shaped to receive and seat the complementary shaped lower edge of the'hood 12in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 6. A gasket 58 may be arranged on the seat 56. arranged in the manner illustratedin Fig. 6 may be employed for detachably securing the hood I2 to the base H], the boltsqextendiiog upwardly into threaded holes in the-hood 12.

A series of bolts 50- l0 and hood l2 are formed atone end of the v the upper part of thebagspace It. The latch 14 is biased to the position illustrated in Fig. 1 and may be released from keeper '18 by means of a. plunger '16. having. a button. i8 exposed to the. exterior. of the casing, the button '58 being carried by the plunger 16 andthe plunger being reciprocally mcunted in the wall of the caseand having a connection with the latch i l, so that upon depression. of. the. button Hi, the latch "i l will separate from the keeper Ill and permit the upper end. of the cap [4 to be swung away from the casingafter. which the hooks. 62.may be disengaged from the edge. 68 by theupward movement of the cap I' l relative to the casing, thereby effecting theseparation of thecap M from. the casing.

To reassemble the cap l l tothe casing. hooks 62 are. engaged with the edge. 68. and the cap pivoted counterclockwise until the keeperiuengages the latch. A gasket Bit-may bearranged in a groove in the rim of. the cap i l and arranged to engage the end face around the bag space access opening seas-to provide a seal between the. end cap and. the remainder of the casing. The endcap i4 may be formed of a mouldedpiastic piece and includes a continuous Wall or partition. 90 which. forms a. seat 5l2v for the bag ring 96. The bag ring. 96 may comprise arubber covered metal ring to which the bag 22is secured and which forms themouth or inlet opening to such bag. Ring. 96. is adaptedtoseat on the seat 92. A latch 98; which may be formed integrally with. the piece onwhichthekeeper H! is formed, is arranged. to. engage one side of the ring 96 and. hold. the. same on the seat 32. Springclip I00, formedintegrally with the piece. 64,; is arrangedto engage the opposite side of the ring 96 and secure. the same against the seat 92.

By deflectingv the clip 180, the lower endqof the ring 96 may-be. separated from its seat and.

thereafter the upper end of the ring 9% may be disengaged from. the latch 98 and the adjacent portion of the seat 92. The bag is thus secured to the end cap 84 and removed from the bag space when the end cap 14 is separated from the casing. The bag may be rfiadily separated 4 from the end cap and reassembled thereto as the clip I88 is a spring clip which may be readily manipulated to permit the bag ring 96 to be separated from the seat 92. The arrangement, having secured the bag to the end cap, provides more bag area exposed to the bag space than is usually the case and, in addition, permits the bag to be positioned with its open end upward before being separated from the end cap so as to avoid spilling of the contents of the bag 22.

A gasket It? secured to the outside of the fan chamber cover 44 engages the inside of the hood and forms a seal therewith so as to separate the space in. the casing, on the intake side of the fan from the. discharge side thereof. The motor includes armature Hi6 arranged for rotation on'a horizontal axis on a shaft :93 which is journalled in bearings H0 and H2 carried by framemembers i It and We. The frame members are provided with feet H8, each of which is supported on a bushing. I28 arranged on the motor support 38 and secured thereto. by means of bolts 22, extending through a foot H8, the bushing 120. and the.- motor support 38. and to r the lower endof which. a nut 424 is threadedly secured. The fan chamber A l-cooperates with a portion of the base to. form an exhaust opening I30, and one end of the motor. projects into such exhaust opening and is arranged so. that air discharged from the fan through such opening flows through and overthe motor for cooling the same. The shaft, I68 projects. into the fan chamber and has a fan 532 secured thereto in the fan chamber so that during operation of the motor, the fan [32"willefiect the circulation of air through the cleaner and cool. the motor in the manner previously described. The diameter of the motor is such and it is supported in such a manner that air which is discharged from the-fan may flow'oversubstantially all of the outside and inside. surfacesof the field and the windings thereof.

A fine mesh filter i'e'il'may be arranged across the casing in front'of the fan so as to define the bag space and prevent'thebag 22,which may be longer than the space-it occupies; fromfouling itself on the-filter 48;

While we have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of our invention; it is understood that these are capable of modification, and we therefore donot wish to'be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail 'our-- selves of such changes andalterations as fall within the purviewof the followin claims.

We claim:

1. A horizontal tanktype suction cleaner comprising a molded plastic; generally fiat, horizontally' disposedbase member formed with integral portions providinga motor support and a cavity open at its upper end, said cavity forming the lower half of'afan chamber, said base member projecting forwardly of said fan chamber to form the lower part of a bag space upstream relative tosaid fan chamber; acover secured to said base member and cooperating with said cavity to define a horizontal axis fan chamber andan inlet thereto communicating with said bag space, saidcover cooperating with an integral portion of said base to form an exhaust opening from. said fan chamber, a horizontal axis electric. motor: on .said support and. including a. horizontalrshaft having afan there-.- on arranged'in-said. farrehamber, one end of said motor projecting into said exhaust opening and. arranged. so that air .discharged. from :said fan through said. outlet. iiows through-'andover.

said motor, a hood mounted on said base member and cooperating therewith to define at least part of the casing of the cleaner which forms surrounding walls of the bag space in front of said motor and fan, a bag in said bag space,

said casing having an air inlet communicating with the interior of said bag, the exhaust opening of said fan chamber communicating with the exterior of said casing, and said fan and motor being arranged in said casing and being operative for effecting the circulation of air through said bag and casing.

2. A horizontal tank type suction cleaner comprising a molded plastic, generally flat, horizontally disposed base member formed with integral portions providing a motor support and a cavity open at its upper end, said cavity forming the lower half of a fan chamber, said base member projecting forwardly of said fan chamber to form the lower part of a bag space upstream relative to said fan chamber, a cover secured to said base member and cooperating with said cavity to define a horizontal axis fan chamber and an inlet thereto communicating with said bag space, said cover cooperating with means on said base to form an exhaust opening from said fan chamber, a horizontal axis electric motor on said support and including a horizontal shaft having a fan thereon arranged in said fan chamber, one end of said motor projecting into said exhaust opening and arranged so that air discharged from said fan through said outlet flows over said motor, a hood mounted on said base member and cooperating therewith to define at least part of the casing of the cleaner which forms surrounding walls of the bag space in front of said motor and fan, a bag in said bag space, said hood and base member defining an access opening to said bag space, a cap closing said bag access opening and having an air inlet communicating with the interior of said bag, said fan chamber exhaust opening communicating with the exterior of said casing, and said fan and motor being arranged in said casing and being operative for effecting the circulation of air through said bag and casing. 3. A horizontal tank type suction cleaner comprising a molded plastic, generally fiat, horizontally disposed base member formed with integral elevated portions providing a motor support and a cavity open at its upper end and arranged in front of said motor support, said cavity forming the lower half of a fan chamber, said base member having a flat portion projecting forwardly of said fan chamber to form the lower part of a bag space upstream relative to said fan chamber and having integral supporting runners extending along the sides of said base member, a cover secured to said base member and cooperating with said cavity to define a horizontal axis fan chamber and an inlet thereto communicating with said bag space, said cover cooperating with an integral portion of said base to form an exhaust opening from said fan chamber, a horizontal axis electric motor on said support and including a horizontal shaft having a fan thereon arranged in said fan chamber, said motor being arranged in line with said exhaust opening so that air discharged from said fan through said outlet flows over said motor, a hood mounted on said base member and cooperating therewith to define at least part of the casing of the cleaner which forms surrounding walls of the bag space in front of said motor and fan, a bag in said bag space, said casing having an air inlet communicatingwith the interior of said bag, said fan chamber exhaust opening communicating with the exterior of said casing, and said fan and motor being arranged in said casing and being operative for effecting the circulation of air through said bag and casing.

4. A horizontal tank type suction cleaner comprising a molded plastic, generally flat, horizontally disposed base member formed with integral portions providing a motor support and a cavity open at its upper end, said cavity forming the lower half of a fan chamber, said base member projecting forwardly of said fan chamber to form the lower part of a bag space upstream relative to said fan chamber, a cover secured to said base member and cooperating with said cavity to define a horizontal axis fan chamber, said fan chamber having an inlet thereto communicating with said bag space and an exhaust opening, a horizontal axis electric motor on said support and including a horizontal shaft having a fan thereon arranged in said fan chamber, a hood mounted on said base member and cooperating therewith to define at least part of the casing of the cleaner which forms surrounding walls of the bag space in front of said motor and fan, a bag in said bag space, said casing-having an air inlet communicating with the interior of said bag, said fan chamber exhaust opening communicating with the exterior of said casing, and said fan and motor being operative for. effecting the circulation of air through said bag and casing.

5. A horizontal tank type suction cleaner comprising a molded plastic, generally flat, horizontally disposed base member formed with integral portions providing a motor support and a cavity open at its upper end, said cavity forming the lower half of a fan chamber, said base member projecting forwardly of said fan chamber to form the lower part of a bag space upstream relative to said fan chamber, a cover secured to said base member and cooperating with said cavity to define a horizontal axis fan chamber, said fan chamber having an inlet thereto communicating with said bag space and an exhaust opening, a horizontal axis electric motor on said support and including a horizontal shaft having a fan thereon arranged in said fan chamber, a hood mounted on said base member and cooperating therewith to define at least part of the casing of the cleaner which forms surrounding walls of the bag space in front of said motor and fan and. an access opening to said bag space, a bag in said bag space, a removable cap closing said bag space access opening and having an air inlet communicating with the interior of said bag, said bag being secured to said cap so as to be removable therewith, said fan chamber exhaust opening communicating with the exterior of said casing, and said fan and motor being operative for effecting the circulation of air through said bag and casing.

6. A tank type suction cleaner comprising a. molded plastic, generally flat, horizontally disposed base member formed with integral portions providing a motor support, an upwardly facing fan chamber cavity, and supporting members for the cleaner, said base member extending laterally of said fan chamber to-form the lower part of a bag space at one side of said fan chamber, a fan chamber cover member secured to said base member and cooperating with said cavity to define a fan chamber, a motor on said support and including a horizontal shaft having a fan thereon arranged in said fan chamber, a hood mounted on said base member and cooperating therewith to 'defi'ne at least part of the casing of the cleaner whichform's surrounding walls of'a bagspace at oneiside oft said motor and fan, a bagin' said bag-space, said hood and base member forming an inletfto-said bag space at oneaendiof said cleaner, said fan chamber-having-an inlet communicatingwith said bag space and an outlet communicating with the exterior of "said: casing; said motor being arrangedin the path'of'fiow of air'discharged by said fan, and'a cap closing said-bagspaceinlet, the inlet ofsaid bag being secured to said cap and said cap having an air inlet leading to the interior: of said bag.

7. A tank: type suction cleaner comprising a molded plastic; generally fiat, horizontally disposed base m'ember'formedwith integral'portions providing 'a motor support, and an upwardly facingfan chamber-cavity, said base member extending=laterally of .saidian chamber toform the'lower part of'a bag spaoe-at'oneside of said ian chamher, a fan chambercovermember secured tosaid base member and cooperatingwith said cavity to define a fan chamb'er, a motor onsaid support'and including-a horizontal shaft having a fan thereon arranged in said ian chamber, a hJOOd mounted on said base member and cooperating: therewith to define at least part ofithe casing of the cleaner whichlforms surrounding walls of a bagspace at oneside of said :motor and fan, said hood and base member forming". aninlet tosaid bag space at one end of. said cleaner; said fan chamber having an inlet communicatingiwithfsaid'bag -space and an outlet communicating" with the exterior of said casing, said. motor being arranged in the. path" of flow of '1 air? which flows 1 through said fan; and a hollow. cap memorably-seated on said base member and hood." and closing saidbagspaceinlet, a bag in said'bag' space; theinlet of said bag being se-' cured in'thehollow of said: cap and forwardly of the joint between said cap andhood. and base member'and said :cap having anair inlet leading to theinteriorofsaid bag;

8; A tank. type suction cleaner comprising a molded plastic, generally. fiat, horizontally disposedv base member formed .withintegral portions providing amotor support, and anupwardly facing fanchamber cavity, saidbasememberaex tending laterally of said fanchamber to: form the lower part of-zabag-space-at one side of said fan. chamber, afan chamber'coverfmember securedto said base: memberover: said cavity and cooperatingwithzsaid base member to define a. fan chamber, an inletitosaidifan chamber and a seat for a filter, a motcron said support and including: a horizontal shaft having a fan thereon arranged in said fanchamber; a filter on saidseat' and arranged-to filter'all. ofzthe air which fiows intosaid ianchamber inlet a hood mounted on said base member and cooperating therewith-to define at least part of the casing of the cleaner which-forms surrounding walls of a bagspace'at one-.sid'eiof'said motor andifan; a bag in said-bagspace,:.said1 hood" and base member forming an inlet to said bag space'at'one end of said cleaner, said fan chamber inlet communicating'with said bagfspace, saidianchamber having an outlet com"- municatingwith theexterior ofsaidcasing, said motor being-arranged-in-the path of'flow ofair which flows through said fan, an'd a cap closing saidbagspace inlet, and said cap' having an air inlet leading to the interioizof said bag.

QFA- tank-type suction cleaner. comprising a molded plastic; generally fiat; horizontally disposedibase member formed withintegral portions providinga motor support; an upwardlyfacing fan chamber cavity, and a seat along'the sides thereof, said base member extending laterally of said fan chamber to form the lower part of a bag space at one side of said fan chamber, a fan chamber cover member secured to said base member and cooperating with said cavity to define a fan chamber, a motor on said support and in cluding a horizontal shaft having a fan thereon arranged in said fan chamber, a hood mounted on said seat on said base member and cooperating therewith to define at least part of thecasing of the cleaner which forms surrounding walls of a bag space at one side of said motor and fan, a bag in said bag space, said hood and base member forming an inlet to said bag space at one end of said cleaner, said fan chamber having an inlet communicating with said bag space and an outlet communicating with the exterior of said casing, said motor being arranged in the path of flow of air which flows through said fan, and a cap closing said bag space inlet and having an air inlet leading to the interior of said bag.

10. In a tank type horizontally arranged suction cleaner; a casing having a bag'space at one end thereof, means in said casing for effecting the circulation of air therethrough, said casing having an access opening to said bag space, a hollow cap seated on said casing around said opening for closing the same and having a continuous seat in the hollow'of said cap, a bag, including a bag ring which defines the mouth of said bag, arranged in saidbag space with said bag ringseated on said seat, means on and housed within said cap and including a displaceable shoulder engagingsaid'bagring for holding and securing the same on its seat independently of the seating of said cap on said casing, said bag ring and seat being arranged aheadof the joint between said cap and said casing, said access opening includinga shoulder on one side thereof and a latch'and saidcap having keepers engageable with said shoulders and with said latch for securing said cap to said casing.

11. In a tankitype horizontally arranged suctioncleaner, a casing having-a bagispace at one end thereof, means in said casing for efiecting thecirculationaofair therethrough, said casing having'an access openingto said .bag space, a hollow'capj seated on said casing around said opening'for closingthe sameand having a, seat in the hollow of said cap, a bag, including a bag ring which defines the'mouth of said bag, arranged in said bag-spacewith said bagringseated on said seat, and means on and housed within said cap and including a clisplaceable shoulder engagingsaid bagring for holding and securingthe same on its seat independently of! the seating-of said cap Qn'said casing, said bag ring and seat bein arranged ahead of the joint between said cap and'saidcasing.

12f Ina tank type horizontally arranged suction cleaner, a casing having a bag space, means insaid-casing for effecting the circulation of air therethrough, said casing having an access'opening'including a shoulder on one'side thereofand' a latch and said cap having keepers engageable V9 with said shoulders and e; keeper engageable with 0 I UNITED STATES PATENTS said latch for securingisald cap to said casing,

e v Name Date said keepers having means formed integrally Shanahan July 17 1917 therewith for securlngflsa id bag ring on its seat Aldinger June 1930 independently of the seating ofsaid cap on said 5 Faber Man 9 mini!- Lofgren Apr. 25, 1939 RALPH OSBORN- French July 16, 1946 CHARLES F. FOLEY.

REFERENbifi CITED :0 

